Monte Binga is the highest mountain in Mozambique and the second-highest mountain in Zimbabwe. It is located in the Chimanimani Mountains, on the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique in the Chimanimani Transfrontier Park in Manica Province. Its height is 8004 feet (2440m) above sea level. [4]
The mountain is composed of very hard pale grey precambrianquartzite, which underlies all of the Chimanimani Plateau, giving it a desolate rocky appearance. The north–south trending quartzite bedding is upturned near the summit to an angle of about 40 degrees and dips to the east, the foot of the mountain and the Turret Towers range immediately to the south lying on a thrust fault. Consequently, the eastern approach is more gradual, while the western face is steep to sheer in places. The northern face is cut off by a fault and is sheer near the top, changing to a vertical cliff lower down. Approaching from the west, from the Bundi River Valley, there is an ill-defined trail which branches off from the main smugglers trail to Skeleton Pass.
Climbing
The climb is arduous and takes about the best part of a day. There are a number of false summits en route. The best path, marked with cairns, climbs south-east then eastward up from the Bundi valley, then swings north-east below the mountain until, at Bingas's northern shoulder, swings south-east, climbs the mountain's western face, and, reaching the ridge, swings into a northward scramble up to the beacon: about three hours from the Bundi valley.
There is little if any water on the approach from the west, nor at the top, but small puddles of water seep from the peat and collect in hollows not far off the summit on the gentler eastern slope. There are no well marked trails from Binga to the east and one must make one's own way, taking care when crossing the steep ravines that lead eastwards.
Summit
At the top the mountain curves into a dome-like prominence. The appearance of the mountain top is bleak and rocky, with an extremely shallow peaty soil supporting only tussocky grass and moss between the lichen-covered hard rock outcrops.
The views over the Mozambique plain are spectacular. Theoretically, with a telescope it should just be possible to see the Indian Ocean from the peak of Binga on a very clear day looking along an easterly bearing, at a range of 190 kilometres. The mountain is remote from settlements.
References
^"Monte Binga" on Peakbagger Note: Peakbagger indicates the peak is on the border, however the website's coordinates suggest it lies just to the east (Mozambique side) of the border. Retrieved 27 September 2011
^Sheet SE-36-14 Melsetter (1:250,000), Edition 2 (1972) Published by the Surveyor General, Rhodesia. Note: the peak of Binga forms border beacon number 71 and lies exactly on the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
monte, binga, highest, mountain, mozambique, second, highest, mountain, zimbabwe, located, chimanimani, mountains, border, between, zimbabwe, mozambique, chimanimani, transfrontier, park, manica, province, height, 8004, feet, 2440m, above, level, north, facehi. Monte Binga is the highest mountain in Mozambique and the second highest mountain in Zimbabwe It is located in the Chimanimani Mountains on the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique in the Chimanimani Transfrontier Park in Manica Province Its height is 8004 feet 2440m above sea level 4 Monte BingaMonte Binga north faceHighest pointElevation2 439 6 m 8 004 ft 1 2 Prominence1 346 m 4 416 ft ListingCountry high pointCoordinates19 46 36 S 33 03 43 E 19 77667 S 33 06194 E 19 77667 33 06194 Coordinates 19 46 36 S 33 03 43 E 19 77667 S 33 06194 E 19 77667 33 06194 3 GeographyMonte BingaLocation of Monte Binga in MozambiqueLocationManica MozambiqueParent rangeChimanimani MountainsThis article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Monte Binga news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Contents 1 Geology 2 Climbing 2 1 Summit 3 ReferencesGeology EditThe mountain is composed of very hard pale grey precambrian quartzite which underlies all of the Chimanimani Plateau giving it a desolate rocky appearance The north south trending quartzite bedding is upturned near the summit to an angle of about 40 degrees and dips to the east the foot of the mountain and the Turret Towers range immediately to the south lying on a thrust fault Consequently the eastern approach is more gradual while the western face is steep to sheer in places The northern face is cut off by a fault and is sheer near the top changing to a vertical cliff lower down Approaching from the west from the Bundi River Valley there is an ill defined trail which branches off from the main smugglers trail to Skeleton Pass Climbing EditThe climb is arduous and takes about the best part of a day There are a number of false summits en route The best path marked with cairns climbs south east then eastward up from the Bundi valley then swings north east below the mountain until at Bingas s northern shoulder swings south east climbs the mountain s western face and reaching the ridge swings into a northward scramble up to the beacon about three hours from the Bundi valley There is little if any water on the approach from the west nor at the top but small puddles of water seep from the peat and collect in hollows not far off the summit on the gentler eastern slope There are no well marked trails from Binga to the east and one must make one s own way taking care when crossing the steep ravines that lead eastwards Summit Edit At the top the mountain curves into a dome like prominence The appearance of the mountain top is bleak and rocky with an extremely shallow peaty soil supporting only tussocky grass and moss between the lichen covered hard rock outcrops The views over the Mozambique plain are spectacular Theoretically with a telescope it should just be possible to see the Indian Ocean from the peak of Binga on a very clear day looking along an easterly bearing at a range of 190 kilometres The mountain is remote from settlements References Edit Monte Binga on Peakbagger Note Peakbagger indicates the peak is on the border however the website s coordinates suggest it lies just to the east Mozambique side of the border Retrieved 27 September 2011 Sheet SE 36 14 Melsetter 1 250 000 Edition 2 1972 Published by the Surveyor General Rhodesia Note the peak of Binga forms border beacon number 71 and lies exactly on the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique Google Earth Sheet SE 36 14 Melsetter 1 250 000 Edition 2 1972 Published by the Surveyor General Rhodesia This Mozambique location article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Monte Binga amp oldid 1142469845, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
